Sanjeet K. Verma, Sanjay Kumar, Vineeta Pandey, Rajesh Kumar Verma and Dharni Dhar Patra
The study pertains to the exploration of the phytotoxic (allelopathic) potential of aqueous extracts derived from leaf, root and seeds of Ocimum on some commercially important agricultural crops like wheat, gram lentil, mustard, barley ,okra and pea, in terms of seed germination, root and shoot elongation. The inhibitory effect was exhibited by all the extracts with maximum in leaf followed by root and seed extract. In barley, the germination inhibition was 100%, 80% and 60% respectively by leaf, root and seed. Further, Ocimum extracts significantly affect the root and shoot elongation of all the test crops. The maximum root and shoot growth was retarded by leaf extracts. The trends was okra > barley > mustard > maize > wheat > pea > lentil > gram and okra > maize > barley > Gram > wheat > lentil > mustard > pea, respectively in leaf extract. These results provide evidence of differential allelopathic effects as well as providing preliminary evidence of some allelopathic potential of Ocimum plant.
